Pedal extension



Jan. 2, 1951 A. BENEDICT my 2,536,903

PEDAL EXTENSION Filed June 11, 1948 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED PEDAL EXTENSION Aloys Benedict and Margaret W. Benedict, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 11, 1948, Serial No. 32,388

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an attachment for a piano and particularly pertains to pedal extension.

The structure of a standard piano is such that the pedals are at a fixed height from the floor irrespective of the requirements of the person playing the piano. When short persons or juveniles play the piano they find it difficult to adjust themselves properly to the keyboard and to the pedals. It is, of course, necessary for the player to have a convenient reach to the keyboard and this makes it difficult for the player to have any satisfactory control over the pedals. Various devices have been constructed for building up the height of the pedals so that they can be manipulated by a person having a short leg reach. Most of these devices are of a fixed or semi-permanent nature which makes it necessary for the attachments to be removed when their use is not required. There is a demand therefore for a pedal extension structure which does not require any attaching means and which may be easily placed in operative relation to the piano pedals or removed therefrom without manipulating any fastening device. It is also desirable to provide a piano pedal extension which will accommodate the foot of the player conveniently and comfortably. It is also desirable to provide pedal extension which may be disposed operatively relative to a plurality of pedals and which may be adjusted so that a selected extension may provide a solid support for one foot of the player without depressing the pedal normally associated therewith.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a pedal extension unit adapted to be placed in operative position and removed therefrom instantly and which will afford natural control of the piano pedals by persons of short leg reach, and which structure embodies means to convert a pedal extension to form a solid foot support without affecting the piano pedal normally associated therewith.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a structure adapted to be disposed upon the floor and which structure carries independent pedal extension members, said members providing a treadle portion and a pedal pad which will fit the pedal in a manner to hold the entire structure in a playing position when required.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the application of the pedal extension structure to a piano.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the details of construction of the pedal extension and indicating it as removed from its operative position relative to a, piano.

Fig. 3 is an end view of one form of the invention which includes means to adapt a pedal extension to form a solid support and to be ineffective in moving the pedal associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the details of the structure disclosed in Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it indicates the case of a piano. Extending horizontally therefrom near its lower edge is a set of pedals ll. These pedals when depressed will perform the usual functions required for piano playing. The present invention is concerned with a pedal extension structure generally indicated at 22. This comprises a base i3, which is here shown in the form of a flat relatively thin plate, and in practice it has been found that it is desirable to make this plate of Bakelite or some suitable plastic material. The width of the plate as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing is greater than the width of the space occupied by the piano pedals. At the forward edge of the plate, and midway the width thereof, is a tongue Id of reduced width. This projects beneath the piano and tends to aid in holding the structure rigidly. At the outer edge of the plate 13 is a plurality of upwardly extending lugs [5 having horizontal openings through them to receive pivot pins it. The pivot pins [5 pass through arms ll. One of these arms is disposed at ach end of each of the lugs l5 and extends upwardly to be attached to a treadle member 18. The arms are formed with upper flat faces 59, against which the treadle member rests and to which the treadle member is secured by screws 26. The treadle members are of a width to accommodate the foot of a person playing the piano, and since the arms H extend to a, height considerably above the plane of the top surface of the pedals II it will be recognized that the t-readle portions are in reach of the person playing the piano even though the person is short in height. The treadle members l8 extend forwardly toward the piano and are here shown as terminating in a downwardly curved portion 2|. The downwardly curved portion of each treadle member rests against one of a pair of seat blocks 22. Each of the blocks 22 has a recess 23 formed in its lower face, the re cess being of a width greater than the width of a piano pedal. The blocks 22 are secured to the portions 2| by screws or other fastening means indicated at 23. It is preferable that the blocks 22 be made of rubber so that there will be slight flexibility of the blocks.- The recess 23 in each of the blocks is defined by side walls 25 and 25 which limit the lateral movement of the blocks with relation to the pedals and an end wall 26 which will limit the movement of the structure toward the piano and will insure that the piano will not be marred. In. order to insure. ease of action of the pedal extension as it bears against the upper face of the pedal it may be desirable to provide transverse ribs 2? which rest againstthe upper face of the pedal and which will in sure that a minimum amount of friction will occur between a pedal 1 i and its: extension block 22 as the pedal is moved up and down.

In operation of the presentinvention the. flevice is constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and when it is ready for use the extension members l9 may be swung upwardly as indicated in Fig. 2. The member 83 may then be disposed on the floor or floor covering and moved so that its forward edge andits extension portion I 1 extend beneath the piano and the pedals ii. The podal extensions iii are then swung downwardly so that the seat blocks 22 may register with the pedals and fit thereover as shown in Fig. 1-. The person playing the piano may then occupy a suitable seat or stool which is placed so that the extension portions is may be easily reached by the feet of the player and disposed entirely thereon in a natural and comfortable position. The pedals ll may then be depressedas required by pres sure against the extension portions 58 by the person playing the piano. Vl hen the structure is not required it may be instantly removed witl out detaching any fastening means and due to its light weight may be easily carried away.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and l of the drawings another form of pedal extension is shown. It will be seen that it has the exten- V sion portions l8 and the downwardly curved portions 2!. In addition to these portions, side webs 253 extend downwardly to a distance considerably lower than that of the piano pedals. ii. The blocks 22 are hinged to the loweredge of the central curved portion 25 as indicated at 29', This makes it possible for the blocks 22 to swing upwardly and beneath the curved portion 2i so that they will be out of contact with piano pedal N. This position is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. Here it will be seen that a spring clamp or other suitable means may engage the free edge of the block 22 to hold it in its uppermost position. When in this position the lower faces 3i of the side webs 28 will rest on the floor and thus will provide a firm solid support for the pedal extension so that that particular p1dal extension will be inefieotive in imparting movement to the pedal H. Such 2. Sup port is often desirable with the right hand pedal. This provides comfort and ease of posture to the piano player since the right foot will be supported firmly and the l ft foot. may manipulate the other extension.

It will thus be seen that the pedal extension structure here disclosed is simple in design, light in weight, and may be instantly disposed in a playing position or removed therefrom without the requirement of any attaching means.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention as now known to us, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction, and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A piano pedal extension comprising a base plate adapted to rest upon the floor with its forward edge extending beneath the pedals of a piano, the width of said base plate being greater than the overall. width oixthe pedals to be controlled; journal lugs extending upwardly from the base plate at the rearward edge thereof and spaced a distance apart to agree substantially with the spacing of the piano pedals from each other; treadle members, one for each of said lugs; apair of parallel arms secured at their upper ends to each of said treadle members and receiving the corresponding journal lug therebetween; horizontal pins extending through said arms and lugs to pivot said treadle members on said lugs, each of said treadle members being of a width and length to accommodate the foot of a person playing the piano and having a downwardly extending portion at the free end thereof; and pedal seat blocks, one of which is carried on the free downwardly extending end of. each of said treadle members, said blocks being parallel with the upper main portions of said treadle members, each block being formed with a recess into which a pedal may extend with said block. resting on the upper face of said pedal, the length of the arms and the downwardly extending free end portion of each treadle member being such as to support said member with its upper main portion in a substantially horizontal plane when the pedal block of said member rests upon a pedal.

2. A piano pedal extension comprising a base plate adapted to rest upon the floor with its forward edge extending beneath the pedals of a piano, the width of said base plate being greater than the overall width of the pedals to be controlled; journal lugs extending upwardly from the base plate at the rearward edge thereof and spaced a distance apart to agree substantially 1 I with the spacing of the piano pedals from each other; treadle members, one for each of said lugs; a pair of parallel arms secured at their upper ends to each of said treadle members and receiving the corresponding journal lug therebetween; horizontal pins extending through said arms and lugs to pivot said treadle members on said lugs, each of said treadle members being of a width and length to accommodate the foot. of a person playing the piano and having a downwardly extending portion at the free end thereof; and pedal seat blocks, one of which is carried on the free downwardly extending end of each of said treadle members, said blocks being parallel with the upper main portions of said treadle members, each block being formed of resilient material with a recess. into which a pedal may extend with said block resting on the upper face of said pedal, the length of the arms and the. downwardly extending free end portion of each treadle member being such as to support said member with its upper main portion in a substantially horizontal plane when the pedal block of said member rests upon a pedal.

3. A piano pedal extension comprising a base adapted to rest upon the floor, a pedal extension member articulately connected to the base at its outer end having a free-swinging end designed to rest upon a pedal, said pedal extension being formed with a treadle portion at an elevation above the floor, a supporting member at the free.

end of said pedal extension and adapted to rest upon the floor when the pedal extension is to be used as a solid foot support, and a movable member carried on the free end of the pedal extension and adapted to move to and away from a position to rest upon a piano pedal whereby the free end of the pedal extension may swing to operate the piano pedal and the support thereby will be maintained out of contact with the floor.

4. A piano pedal extension comprising a base adapted to rest upon the floor, a pedal extension member articulately connected to the base at its outer end having a free-swingingtend designed to rest upon a pedal, said pedal extension being formed with a treadle portion at an elevation above the floor, a supporting member at the free end of said pedal extension and adapted to rest upon the floor when the pedal extension is to be used as a solid foot support, and a movable member carried on the free end of the pedal extension and adapted to move to and away from a position to rest upon a piano pedal whereby the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 162,443 Whiting Apr. 20, 1875 1,226,494 Fox May 15, 1917 1,229,023 Boynton June 5, 1917 2,174,876 Garrison Oct. 3, 1939 2,245,314 Willis et a1 June 10, 1941 

